Popular

July 8, 2008

Rendell Signs Mine Safety Bill

by Sam Savage

Gov. Ed Rendell Monday signed the state's new mine safety and health law, the first major update of Pennsylvania's 125-year-old bituminous deep mine safety law. The bill was signed during ceremonies at the Robena Miners Memorial, the monument near Carmichaels that is dedicated to the 37 miners killed at the Robena No. 3 Mine explosion in December 1962.

United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said in a statement that passing the legislation and setting up new oversight won't mean anything if the law is not enforced, and enforced vigorously. "There are more than 6,000 coal miners who go to work every day in the state of Pennsylvania who need to know that their government is on their side," Roberts said.